Among the key victories for the GOP on Election night was in District 11 in Jamestown, where Republican Challenger David Wilfong defeated incumbent and current minority leader Bob Whitney. The unofficial total from election night was 533 to 444.

Another key loss for democrats was in District 16, which covers the towns of Kiantone, Carroll and Poland. In that race, Republican and former legislator Ron Lemon defeated democratic incumbent Tom Erlandson by a wide margin of 1,077 to 641.

Two other democratic incumbents also loss their bid for re-election and in both cases, they lost to republican incumbents. The match-up of incumbents was the result of downsizing the legislature. In District 7, which covers the towns of Portland and Stockton, Republican John Runkle defeated Democrat Tom DeJoe. Meanwhile, in District 3, which covers the towns of Pomfret and half the village of Fredonia, Republican Bob Scudder knocked off Democrat William Coughlin.

In the other Contested races:

• District 4: Janet Keefe (D,WF,I-Fredonia) def. Michael Sullivan (R, C-Fredonia)
• District 5: Terry Niebel (R,C,I-Dunkirk) def. Susan Baldwin (D-South Dayton)
• District 10: P.J. Wendel (R,C-Lakewood) def. Sharon Lisciandro (D,I-Lakewood)
• District 12: Fred Larson (D,I-Jamestown)def. William Prieto (R,C-Jamestown);
• District 15: Lisa Vanstrom (R,I-West Ellicott) def. Sam Ognibene (D,C-Falconer)
• District 18: David Himelein (R,C,I-Findley Lake) def. Ed Carutis (D,WF-Sherman)

Legislators running unopposed were:

• District 1: Keith Ahlstrom (D,WF-Dunkirk)
• District 2: Shaun Heenan (D-Dunkirk)
• District 6: George Borello (R,C,I-Irving)
• District 8: Pierre Chagnon (R,C-Bemus Point)
• District 9: Chuck Nazarro (D,I-Jamestown)
• District 13: Paula DeJoy (D,I) Jamestown
• District 14: Mark Tarbrake (R,C,I-Jamestown)
• District 17: Jay Gould (R,C-Ashville)
• District 19: John Hemmer (R,C,I-Westfield)

Fred Larson (Left) and William Prieto – both of Jamestown – the 2013 candidates for Chautauqua County Legislature, District 12.

JAMESTOWN – A former representative in both city and county government is looking to get back into the political arena, but he’ll have to defeat a local businessman in order to do so.

Among the contested races for the Chautauqua County Legislature is the race for District 12, which is an open seat that covers the northeastern side of the city of Jamestown.  The race will feature local attorney and Democrat Fred Larson against local businessman and Republican William Prieto.

• VIEW ALL 2013 RACES AT VOTECHAUTAUQUA

During last week’s League of Women Voters’ meet the candidates forum, both Larson and Prieto were present and offered their thoughts on why they felt they’d be the best choice for residents in District 12.

When asked about the most serious issue facing Chautauqua County today, Larson said that contrary to popular belief, it isn’t whether or not to sell the Chautauqua County Home (although he went on record saying that if it can be proven that it is operating with a true deficit, he would be in favor of selling it). Instead, Larson said the main issue is a lack of jobs.

“The number one issue in this county is the lack of jobs. It’s not whether we sell the county home or not. If it’s sold tomorrow, what’s that mean to the 7,000 people that haven’t been working in this county the past seven years?” he asked. “It is an important issue within county government, but its not an important issue for whether or not your children and your grand children can find a living wage here in Chautauqua County and a decent job to stay here. The lack of these jobs has repercussions all over the place. If we don’t have enough people working, they can’t buy homes and they can’t spend money.”

Prieto agreed with Larson. But he said that what’s missing from the county legislature is the ability to tie various issues and concerns together, in order to have a multifaceted approach to economic development.

“I think it’s economic development as a whole. I think jobs are part of that, Chautauqua lake is part of that, Brownfield development is part of that and StartUp NY is part of that,” Prieto said. “It’s a comprehensive plan and we have to look at it in a comprehensive way. That’s what everybody is missing. They’re attacking these problems in a small format and we need to look at it in the big picture.”

Larson is a former city councilman and county legislator. He also served as the county’s attorney during Mark Thomas’s run as county executive and currently sits on the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities.  Prieto is a veteran of the U.S. army who previously owned his own business in Jamestown. He currently works as a Senior Digital Media Strategist for Hearst Media.

There will also be elections for the downsized county legislature, which will have just 19 seats starting in January 2014, compared to the current 25 seats. In all, there will be 10 contested races for the legislature:

• District 3: Bob Scudder (R,C-Fredonia); Billy Coughlin (D,WF,I-Fredonia)
• District 4: Janet Keefe (D,WF,I-Fredonia); Michael Sullivan (R, C-Fredonia)
• District 5: Susan Baldwin (D-South Dayton); Terry Niebel (R,C,I-Dunkirk)
• District 7: John Runkle (R,C,I-Stockton); Tom DeJoe (D,WF-Brocton)
• District 10: P.J. Wendell (R,C-Lakewood); Sharon Lisciandro (D,I-Lakewood)
• District 11: Dave Wilfong (R,C-Jamestown); Bob Whitney (D,WF,I-Jamestown)
• District 12: William Prieto (R,C-Jamestown); Fred Larson (D,I-Jamestown)
• District 15: Lisa Vanstrom (R,I-West Ellicott); Sam Ognibene (D,C-Falconer)
• District 16: Ron Lemon (R,C-Frewburg); Tom Erlandson (D,I-Frewsburg)
• District 18: David Himelein (R,C,I-Findley Lake); Ed Carutis (D,WF-Sherman)

There are also three Jamestown city council seats that will contested:

• Ward I: Tara Hall (D); Brent Sheldon (R,C)
• Ward III:  Regina Brackman (D); Tamara Dickey (R,C)
• Ward IV: Marie Carrubba (D,WF,I); Richard Elardo (R,C)

For more details on this year’s race, including audio from candidate, visit www.WRFALP.com/election-2013. Information regarding all races for 2013 can also be found at www.VoteChautauqua.com.

Chautauqua County Executive Candidates Ron Johnson (Left) and Vince Horrigan are two of the candidates who will be in attendance Thursday night, Oct. 24, during the Meet the Candidates session at the James Prendergast Library.

JAMESTOWN – The American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Chautauqua County League of Women Voters will sponsor Meet the Candidates for local, countywide positions, and the Chautauqua County Legislature on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the James Prendergast Library’s Fireplace Room.

The audience will be able to question candidates for County Executive, County Clerk, and candidates for the Legislature from the new districts 10,11, 12, 15, and 16. The candidates for County Executive are Vince Horrigan (R-Bemus Point) and Ron Johnson (D-Fredonia). Candidates for County Clerk are Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) and Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown).

Among the candidates for the Legislature are incumbents and new faces: Sharon Lisciandro and Paul Wendel Jr. in District 10, Robert Whitney and David Wilfong in District 11, Fred Larson and William Prieto in District 12, Samuel Ognibene and Lisa Vanstrom in District 15, and Thomas Erlandson and Ronald Lemon in District 16.

The League and AAUW time-keepers are strict about keeping the candidates’ statements brief so that many members of the audience can ask questions. Candidates are also encouraged to question one another in true debate form. The event is free and open to the public.

Hendrickson said the party will be throwing its support behind Vince Horrigan (Bemus Point) in his bid for County Executive. In addition, the party is also supporting Larry Barmore (Gerry) for the office of County Clerk. Both Barmore and Horrigan are currently serving on the county legislature. The party is also endorsing David Foley (Fredonia) in his reelection bid for District Attorney.

Due to a public vote in 2011, the county legislature has been reduced from 25 to 19 members and of the republicans have candidates for 14 of the 19 districts. In fact, two of the districts will feature a Republican Party Primary.

In District 16 (Towns of Kiantone, Carroll and Poland), former county legislator Ron Lemon (Frewsburg) and former legislator Tami Downey (Kiantone) will be running for the party’s endorsement. Lemon had previously served on the legislature until stepping down from the office in 2010 to become the county legislature clerk. At that time Downey was then selected to serve his unfinished term. She lost the election in 2011 to Tom Erlandson (D-Frewsbug).

There will also be a GOP primary in District 18 (Towns of Mina, Sherman and most of Chautauqua) featuring two incumbents. Because of redistricting, both Republican Fred Crosscut (Sherman) and Republican David Himelein (Findley Lake) are now in the same district.

Others who have received the party’s endorsement for county legislature include Pierre Cagnon in District 8 (Towns of Ellery and North Harmony); David Wilfong in District 11 (Jamestown); William Prieto in District 12 (Jamestown); and Lisa Vanstrom for District 15 (Town of Ellicott south of I—86).

Republican incumbents who’ve announced they’ll be seeking reelection include Bob Scudder in District 3 (Town of Pomfret), Bob Stewart in District 5 (Towns of Sheridan, Arkwright, Villenova, Cherry Creek), George Borello in District 6 (Towns of Hanover), John Runkle in District 7 (Towns of Portland and Stockton), PJ Wendel in District 10 (Town of Busti, Jamestown), Mark Tarbrake in District 14 (Towns of Charlotte, Ellington, Gerry and Ellicott north of I-86), Jay Gould in District 17 (Towns of French Creek, Clymer, Harmony and Busti) and John Hemmer in District 19 (Town of Westfield and Ripley).

The County Democrat Party Nominating Committee will be finalizing its slate of endorsements this coming weekend.

A complete list of all candidates for the 2013 election can be found on our blog site, www.wrfalp.wordpress.com.